What a skid-mounted compressor is
“Skid” describes the base, not the compressor. The same rotary screw airend and engine or motor that sits on a towable chassis can be built on a fabricated steel frame with forklift pockets, lifting eyes and often an integral fuel tank and drip tray. The result is a compact, rigid package that is moved by crane, forklift or truck rather than towed.
Representative images of machine types we sell, service and rent. Models and capacities are confirmed against your duty.
Photographs from Reddy Compressors’ own fleet and workshop.
Common skid arrangements include:
- Diesel portable on a skid for mounting on a truck, a drilling rig or a barge, or for sites where a towable chassis is not useful.
- Electric screw compressor on a skid for temporary or semi-permanent plant air, fed from site power.
- Engineered air system skid combining compressor, receiver, aftercooler, dryer, filters and controls on one frame for a dedicated duty.
- High-pressure skid for borewell, DTH or pipeline duty, often truck-mounted or rig-mounted.
The skid does not tell you the drive, the pressure or the air quality. Those are separate selection decisions, covered on our portable air compressors hub.
Skid-mounted, towable or trailer-mounted: how to decide
| Factor | Skid-mounted | Towable | Trailer or truck-mounted |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it moves | Crane, forklift or carried on a vehicle | Towed on its own running gear | Carried permanently on a trailer or truck |
| Best for | Semi-permanent sites, rigs, plinths, tight spaces | Frequent moves between work positions | Drilling and long-distance mobile work |
| Footprint | Smallest; no drawbar or axle | Larger with drawbar | Set by the vehicle |
| Site preparation | Firm level base, lifting plan | Hard standing and access route | Vehicle access and parking |
| Lifting equipment | Needed at each move | Usually not | Not for moves; may be for installation |
Many borewell compressors in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are skid-built and then mounted on a truck alongside the rig. For drilling at 600–1,500 cfm and 200–400 psig (13.8–27.6 bar), the skid frame carries a large engine and airend that would be impractical on a towing chassis. See also trailer-mounted compressors and towable compressors.
Survey the destination before dispatch
A skid is only as good as the place it sits. Before delivery, confirm what will be ready at site.
| Survey item | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Final position | Marked location, orientation of air outlet, exhaust and cooling-air discharge |
| Supporting surface | Level concrete plinth, steel structure or compacted ground able to carry the package weight with fuel |
| Access route | Gate widths, overhead lines, slopes and turning space for the carrier |
| Lifting area | Crane or forklift standing, outrigger space, lifting plan by the responsible team |
| Ventilation and clearance | Free air to the cooler inlet, no recirculation of hot exhaust air, service access on all sides |
| Services | Air header connection point, electrical supply for electric units, fuel delivery for diesel |
| Future removal | Route and space to lift the skid or major parts out later |
Lifting and handling
Skids are designed to be lifted only at defined points. Using the wrong points can bend the frame, crack mounts or damage the canopy.
- Obtain the package weight with and without fuel, and the centre of gravity if marked.
- Use only the designated lifting eyes or the central lifting bail, or the forklift pockets with forks of adequate length.
- Use a spreader beam where the manufacturer specifies one, to avoid crushing the canopy.
- Drain or reduce fuel where the lifting plan requires it, and secure loose items.
- Have a competent lifting supervisor approve the plan; site lifting rules govern.
- For truck transport, chain or strap the skid at its tie-down points, not over pipework or canopy panels.
Foundation, levelling and vibration
A rotary screw compressor produces little vibration compared with a piston machine, but the engine or motor, cooling fan and pipework still need a stable base. Set the skid level so that oil levels read correctly and the separator tank drains as designed. On a concrete plinth, use the manufacturer’s mounting arrangement; many packages already have anti-vibration mounts between the machine and the skid, and should not be rigidly bolted in a way that bypasses them. Where the skid sits on a steel structure, check that the structure is stiff enough and that resonance is not introduced.
Piston (reciprocating) compressors on skids need more attention: their unbalanced forces call for heavier foundations and proper anchoring to the maker’s drawing.
Cooling, ventilation and the Indian summer
Skids are often placed close to walls, inside sheds or on crowded rig decks, which is where cooling problems start. The cooling air must reach the cooler inlet and the hot discharge air must leave without being drawn back in. In ambient temperatures of 40–45 °C, and above 45 °C on open sites, even a small amount of recirculation can push an oil-injected screw above its normal discharge range of about 75–95 °C and trip it on high discharge temperature.
- Keep the manufacturer’s recommended clearances around the package.
- Duct hot air out of enclosed rooms; do not let it collect under a roof.
- Shade the skid from direct sun where possible without restricting airflow.
- Keep coolers clean; dust and cement from nearby work block fins quickly.
- Route the engine exhaust away from the cooling-air inlet and from people.
See portable compressor cooling for the detail.
Connections between the skid and the site
- Compressed air. Use a flexible connection between the skid and fixed pipework, so pipe stress and vibration are not transmitted. Fit an isolation valve and allow for a receiver where demand fluctuates.
- Condensate. Route drains from the aftercooler, separator and dryer to a collection point; oily condensate must not run to ground.
- Electrical. For electric skids, a correctly rated supply, protection, earthing and a starter matched to the motor. Indian site supplies can sag or unbalance; voltage and phase checks before start-up avoid motor damage.
- Fuel. For diesel skids, a safe refuelling position or a connection to a day tank, with spill containment.
- Controls. Where several skids feed one header, plan pressure settings or a sequencer so machines share load rather than fight each other.
Commissioning checklist
- Visual inspection after transport: frame, mounts, pipework, canopy, leaks.
- Check engine oil, compressor oil, coolant and fuel levels; check battery or electrical supply and rotation.
- Confirm safety devices: high discharge temperature, low engine oil pressure, high coolant temperature, safety valve.
- Start, warm up and load gradually; check unloading and pressure regulation.
- Record discharge temperature, pressures and hours; check for air, oil and fuel leaks under load.
- Hand over operating instructions and the service plan to the site team.
Servicing a skid in place
Skids usually stay put for months, so they must be serviceable where they stand. Plan access for changing air filter elements, oil filters, the separator element and fuel filters, for draining oil into a container and for removing a cooler for cleaning. A skid jammed against a wall may run well for the first month and then become impossible to service properly.
- Leave enough room to open every canopy door fully.
- Provide a drain point and a tray for used oil and coolant.
- Record running hours; on our own hire jobs we service every 300 running hours.
- Keep the maker’s service manual and the last service report with the machine.
Our rotary screw service page explains what a full service covers.
How Reddy Compressors helps
Reddy Compressors sells new and used/refurbished skid-mounted compressors, rents skid and portable units from our own fleet, and services and supplies spares for skid packages of ELGi, Atlas Copco, Ingersoll Rand, KAESER, Chicago Pneumatic, Doosan and other brands. We are an independent multi-brand specialist, not an authorised dealer. We have tie-ups with all major and reputed brands. From our base at Tarnaka, Secunderabad, our team of more than 20 service engineers and technicians covers Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and we supply equipment and spares across India.
- Selection of the skid size, drive and pressure for the duty.
- Site survey advice, installation and commissioning support.
- Rental skids and portables from 50 to 2,000 cfm and 2–30 bar, through our rental service.
- Service, AMC and breakdown repair for skid packages on rigs, trucks and plinths.
- For long-term projects, brand-new compressors supplied to site.
What to send us
- The air duty: flow in cfm and pressure in bar or psig, and the application.
- Diesel or electric preference, and the site power available.
- Where the skid will sit, with photographs and any drawings of the base.
- Access route and lifting equipment available.
- Duration of use: temporary, project or permanent.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a skid-mounted and a portable compressor?
A skid-mounted compressor sits on a steel base frame and is moved by crane, forklift or truck. A towable portable has its own wheels and drawbar. Both can use the same airend and engine. Skids suit semi-permanent positions, rigs and trucks, and tight spaces; towables suit frequent moves between work positions on a site.
Does a skid-mounted compressor need a concrete foundation?
A rotary screw skid usually needs only a firm, level surface that can carry its weight, such as a concrete plinth or a stiff steel structure. Level placement matters for correct oil levels and drainage. Reciprocating compressors on skids generate larger unbalanced forces and normally need a designed foundation and anchoring to the manufacturer’s drawing.
How do you lift a skid-mounted air compressor safely?
Lift only at the designated lifting eyes, central bail or forklift pockets, using a spreader beam where the maker specifies one. Know the weight with fuel and the centre of gravity. A competent lifting supervisor should approve the plan and site lifting rules apply. Never sling around pipework, coolers or canopy panels.
Are borewell compressors skid-mounted?
Many are. Borewell and DTH compressors at 600–1,500 cfm and 200–400 psig (13.8–27.6 bar) are often built on a skid and mounted on a truck beside the rig, because the engine and airend are too large for a towing chassis. We supply all types, all brands and all models of borewell compressors: new, used, rental, service and spare parts.
Why does my skid compressor overheat in a shed?
Hot discharge air is probably being drawn back into the cooler. In Indian summers, with ambient of 40–45 °C and above, that quickly takes discharge temperature above the normal range of about 75–95 °C. Keep the maker’s clearances, duct hot air outside, keep coolers clean and check oil level and thermostatic valve before returning the unit to service.
Can I hire a skid-mounted compressor for a plant shutdown?
Yes. We rent diesel and electric units from 50 to 2,000 cfm and 2–30 bar from our own fleet, with hoses, aftercoolers, separators and dryers where the duty needs them. Tell us the flow, pressure, air quality, power available and where the unit will sit, and we will propose a suitable package and connection arrangement.
Related pages
Technical content reviewed by D. Srinivas Reddy, Managing Partner and service engineer, Reddy Compressors. Last updated 17 October 2026. How our engineering content is reviewed.